CHARLOTTE — The Panthers have had five-win seasons before. Recently, even.
This is so much different.
The vibe around this team is something you can sense. Monday, as they packed boxes, guys were lingering long after the final team meeting of the year when they were free to go. The free agents all want to stay. The hurt guys keep playing. The old guys may not practice on Thursday, but they show up on Sunday. This is not the same as the other 5-12s when seasons couldn't end soon enough, and guys couldn't break their leases and leave town fast enough.
It's strange, too, what recent seasons have done to fan perceptions. Even before Bryce Young went stone-cold killer on the Falcons last Sunday, people were excited in a measured way about a team that was, at that point, 4-12 and coming off a 48-14 assault and battery at Tampa.
"I think they're onto something. I like what's happening over there," a local independent merchant who can practically see the stadium from his shop said while I bought socks last week. I did not solicit the conversation as I was buying socks. It seemed like a safe space, I guess. (They're really nice socks.) But people can sense when there's a noticeable absence of chaos, and it closely resembles hope.
The Panthers have an opportunity to do something this offseason they haven't done since 2019 — build. When you're constantly changing coaches, GMs, and quarterbacks, you can't do that. But they appear to have identified their leadership and can now go to work assembling a larger core around them.
And they need to.
This team still went 5-12 and still allowed the most points in NFL history. Not this year, in history. As in, since they started playing football in exchange for money. That's not good. But GM Dan Morgan, who started his career here in the middle of a 1-15 team that was in the Super Bowl two years later, owned his part of it, saying Monday that he needed to acquire better players for a defense that will retain its leader too (people said they wanted stability, and they've got it). So you give Morgan the benefit of the doubt that he will.
It's a unique time, the happiest I've seen a bunch of people about a 5-12 season, inside the building and out. Now, if they don't fix the parts that caused the 12 and build on the parts that caused the 5, it won't last.
But people are, mostly at least, enjoying the moment.
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What did the win do for the Panthers Sunday? Except drop them down in the draft order? — Mark, Spruce Pine, NC
I said mostly.
There's always an element of the fan base that doesn't seem like it wants the team to win games and would prefer the hypothetical advantage of draft position. I've never really understood the appeal. Do these people close the windows when it's cold, or do they love the draft so much that they choose to be uncomfortable?
The point of this is supposed to be the games.
Morgan's firmly in that camp. He had blown out his shoulder at the end of his second season in 2002, when a team that lost eight straight games to push them to 3-8 was staring into the final five meaningless-for-playoff-contention games of the season. They went 4-1 that December, winning games improbably with an odd lot of people, and that pushed them all the way to the ninth spot in the draft order in the 2003 draft. It ended up being the eighth pick when Minnesota didn't get a pick in on time, and the Jaguars and Panthers jumped them in order. They didn't lose enough games to be higher in the order, so they settled for Utah tackle Jordan Gross. He played 13 years here, started in a Super Bowl, and his name's on the wall now as a member of the Hall of Honor.
Hmm, picking eighth overall. Sounds familiar. Admittedly, 2003 was a simpler time. Since then, they drafted a couple of guys named Jaycee Horn and Christian McCaffrey in that exact spot.
"I'm a firm believer that what's meant to be is meant to be," Morgan said late last year, before the Panthers won two of their last three to close on a high note. "So if we win games, that's great because that's the ultimate goal. But if we don't, we don't then, and wherever we draft, we're going to do the work, and we're going to go get a good player. So, I'm not worried about it either way.
"I'd much rather win games and go home and be happy."
The winning games and being happy is supposed to be the point.
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Hi Darin, I just don't understand why Ejiro Evero is not getting fired .The Panthers had the worst defense in NFL history. Yes they played with backup players because of injuries but then again I look at the Lions defense playing with backup players and the defense played great. I remember that the two not very good safeties who were signed in the off-season, Evero recommended the Panthers signing them. I remember in 2023, the defense with better players still struggled to stop the run. So what am I missing that makes Evero such a great DC? — Shaked, Charlotte
Because Ejiro Evero is a person that the NFL at large believes is good at his job.
This defense has been undermanned for a minute now. Even last year, when it was the good side of the ball (it was a low bar) and had some players that people liked, it wasn't overly talented. When those guys left, it was a rebuild, personnel-wise, whether that was recognized or not. When Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson got hurt in the first month of this season, it was time to hang on and hope for the best.
As you may have noticed, it did not go well.
The Panthers were playing a bunch of guys who may not return, or youngsters who weren't ready, or guys they love as backups who, out of necessity, were starting and playing major roles. They rolled out a defensive signal-caller who arrived on a Tuesday in late December and started the following Sunday. They used four different nickel corners, the last of whom was an undrafted rookie safety playing there because they were literally out of options they hadn't tried. If you made a slideshow of the 21 dudes who took defensive snaps during last week's game and could identify more than seven of them without the assistance of the internet, you deserve a prize.
So they're going to acquire more players, and try again. With a guy who has proven, here and elsewhere, that the scheme is sound and capable of being good.
Hi Darin. I hope you are doing well. In my opinion, that was a great offensive game. Bryce Young was outstanding. His progress since becoming our starting QB again after being benched has been a wonder to behold. I have to admit that, like many others, I was concerned about his size. I am very pleased to have been wrong. I know that a five-win season is nothing to brag about, but it is better than a two-win season, and I am feeling very optimistic about next year. I believe Mr. Tepper got it right when he hired Dave Canales. There is still work to be done, but there is a lot to love about this team. I don't have a question. I'm the only Panthers fan in my family and sometimes a person just has to share their thoughts with like-minded people. Have a blessed rest of your week. — LeeAnne, Lincolnton, NC
LeeAnne brings up an interesting point. Remember when people were all freaked out about Young's size on the theory that, because he's so short he'd get a lot of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage? That was a thing people talked about a lot.
That turned out to be one of those conventional wisdoms that was neither conventional nor wise.
Young had exactly one pass batted down this season, according to Pro Football Reference. This was tied for 45th in a 32-team league. The 6-foot-2 Andy Dalton had five. The much-taller Sam Darnold had 10, and the basically-the-same-size Baker Mayfield at 14 (sixth in the league). The 6-foot-3 Cooper Rush led the league with 17 in just eight starts.
Part of this is because he was well-protected. After taking 62 sacks as a rookie, he was only sacked 29 times this year. That matters. But Young also has displayed the ability to change arm angles or move around enough to keep himself out of harm's way.
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Happy New Year, Darin! Just wanted to say thank you for your Panthers coverage throughout the year! You and Kassidy are a blessing to us, and we're so thankful to have you both! I'm on a major high from yesterday's win over Atlanta! I think we have so much to look forward to! Bryce is ballin', our rookies have taken strides (once we get Xavier Legette's surgery in the rear view), and our HC and front office seem to be setting us up well! I don't know if there's an official Ask the Old Guy this week, but if so, who would DG take as our No. 8 pick? And what free agent would you target in the offseason? If no ATOG, thanks for a fabulous year of coverage! And thanks for the photo with me at Kickoff Jam! It was awesome to meet you! Take care! — Jen, Harrisburg, NC
Thanks, Jen; I am also grateful for Kassidy, who arrived here just over a year ago and has made herself at home quickly. Seriously, her first game was Christmas Eve 2023 against the Packers. Think about that being your first exposure to this team. The 20 games since have been a journey.
We're here for you. The Mailbag will enter offseason mode soon (as in, not necessarily every week, but still often), but we've got a lot of cool stuff coming this offseason.
I think narrowing draft and free agent targets to one of each would be a disservice because they have nine total picks (eight in the first five rounds) and money to spend in free agency. And I anticipate it to be busy. I could fling names against the wall to get attention, but that doesn't make anybody smarter.
We'll focus on targets as we get closer to the start of free agency in March and the draft in April, but suffice it to say, the priority will be on defense.
Morgan admitted as much Monday, and even if there weren't specifics, there doesn't need to be in January. The Panthers need players at every level on that side of the ball. They have to restock the defensive line, and the only safety under contract at the moment is undrafted rookie Demani Richardson.
I imagine this free agency is going to be an active one, and that will inform the draft plans. As much as they need a big body to put next to Brown and A'Shawn Robinson, as much as they need pass-rushers, as much as they need defensive backs, they need other stuff too.
So if there's an early run on quarterbacks as there always is, if the top defensive players go ahead of them, and the best player on the board is a wide receiver, it's justifiable to do that too (especially if he can run). It's impossible, or at least a waste of time, to lock in on one draft target now because things are going to change significantly between now and then.
The most important thing Morgan said Monday was that he didn't believe in quick fixes. He wants this thing to be stable for the long haul like it was when he played here. So he's going to build it deliberately, and that means using premium picks to take premium players, even if it's not the biggest "need" at the time. The Panthers had Morgan on the roster when they drafted Jon Beason, and they had Beason on the roster when they drafted Luke Kuechly. That's a large part of the reason they had good and stable defenses for the better part of 20 years. That lesson was not lost on Morgan.
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This year's Pro Bowl selections got me thinking. For your money, who is the most underrated player in franchise history? I'll give you mine: Chris Gamble. Played nine years and locked down his side of the field efficiently, and still holds the franchise record for interceptions. But he never made a Pro Bowl. He always seemed like a quiet, humble guy, so that probably contributed to not getting a lot of national accolades. But who would be your pick? — Jeremy, Atlanta, GA
That's honestly not a bad place to start the discussion. And it may be where it ends.
Chris was an elite athlete, who happened to play with a lot of other elite defenders. He had the skinny ankles of a sprinter, and was fluid in the way he moved. He could run with basically any receiver in the league. And yes, he was a quiet guy, content to let so many of the other dudes do the talking.
The two Mikes of the 2000s teams (Minter and Rucker) are likely in this discussion, though Rucker went to a Pro Bowl once. Minter never did, but I recall former Bucs coach Jon Gruden saying Minter gave him nightmares. Gruden remains a king of hyperbole, but Mike was an excellent player for a long time.
Center Ryan Kalil should be in this conversation too, except he was rated. He went to five Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro. Still, it seems like fans never realized how good he was, or how rare his talents were relative to the rest of the league. He played the position the way it was supposed to be played, and had the kind of subversive sense of humor that made him a favorite of his smarter teammates and of writers with a subversive sense of humor as well.
Likewise, defensive end Charles Johnson was excellent for a long time and was at least financially rated when he hit his post-lockout windfall that earned him the locker room nickname "Big Money."
Travelle Wharton and Shaq Thompson also belong in this discussion, because both were very good in their own right, but often in the shadow of the guy next to them. When those other guys are Gross and Kuechly, that's natural.
I'm sure others have their thoughts, but Jeremy might have started us off with the correct answer. As such, I'm making him the first Friend Of The Mailbag of 2025, and if he wears the T-shirt around Atlanta, he'll probably accidentally catch a touchdown pass that Bryce Young didn't see either.
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Kudos to Bryce for winning one in spite of receiving minimal defensive help. That's not a good plan going forward into 2025 and beyond if the mission is to compete with the best of the best. We'll be inundated with mock drafts and got-to-have free agents for the next few months, but I'm trusting in the plan Dan and Dave have. It's pretty clear we need a true WR1 with jaw-dropping speed, and we need about 20 players on defense along with the stud performers we have under contract or soon to be extended.
I appreciate that your crystal ball is in your other pants, but you, like me, have the experience of being a Panther lifer in following our favorite Cats. How many drafts and off-season hiring do you think it will take before we not only are consistently competitive but put the fear back into other teams not only when they see the stadium but when they see us on the schedule? I am growing weary of the Koo attitude that playing the Panthers is a free win. Thanks, Old Guy (even though you are younger than me), for keeping us so well informed. You and your family enjoy a fabulous new year. — Tom, Garner, NC
Tom, the crystal ball is not in my other pants, as those would be easy to find (it's so cold I'm wearing all the pants at the same time). The crystal ball remains in Ben McAdoo's other pants, which complicates things.
I think it's fair to suggest that they can make significant strides next year. Taking the defense from last in the league to the middle of the league would be the difference of several wins.
But as Morgan said the other day that this isn't a quick-fix situation. It's reasonable to think the Panthers could make the NFC South interesting again, but goals beyond the traditionally messiest division in the NFL are probably out there a little further in the future.
They need to stack up a couple of solid drafts to give themselves enough depth to withstand injuries, but they're not there yet. Getting this roster right is going to take more than one or two off-seasons.
But if they make the progress on defense in 2025 they made on offense in 2024, anything can happen. Again, they play in the NFC South.
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Happy New Year! I'm thankful that it's hard to remember what it felt like just last year after getting shut out for the last two weeks of 2023 after watching the OT win in Atlanta. And thankful that we're keeping our DC for another season as I believe the continuity will serve us well in the coming year. I am thankful that Miles Sanders got to have the kind of day that we all envisioned him having on a more regular basis when he signed two years ago, but it wasn't in God's plan. When I see the number of players around the league that refused to play late in the season or late in a game, I'm just grateful for one of our dogs being the professional player that he is as he would have had an almost understandable reason to do the same.
We have had the luxury of having the triumvirate on special teams the last two seasons, and I know some decisions are out of our control, but do you have any sense as to whether we're likely to return with JJ Jansen, Eddy Piñeiro, and Johnny Hekker next season?
I'm especially grateful for the FOTM and all the actually accurate coverage of our team that you and your team provide us diehards who never jumped ship when BY was benched earlier this season; thank you! — Peter, Summerville, SC
Yeah, closing strong definitely makes it easier to go into the offseason, as opposed to the ends of some other recent seasons. There's legitimate reason to be hopeful now.
As to Sanders, that 116-yard, two-touchdown day was big for a lot of reasons. Prior to the Jonathon Brooks injury, it was reasonable to expect his future would be elsewhere in 2025. When a team extends a veteran running back and drafts one in the second round, there's only so much cap space to invest in any position, no matter how important. Now, who knows, but he proved he can be the kind of back that helps teams win. That's good for Sanders, either way.
Also, Dave Canales proved he's willing to ride with guys he trusts, and Sanders being a good teammate here in a weird situation is the kind of thing that builds that kind of trust. And having that kind of professional atmosphere is a thing a team needs.
As for the specialists, it's not conventional for all three to become free agents at the same time. Jansen, like all long snappers, is effectively on a year-to-year deal anyway. But he's played a lot of them in a row and is one of only seven players in league history to play 260 games or more for one franchise. Plus, he's got a youth baseball team to coach here.
Hekker had what some consider to be a down year for him, but he had a lot of margin to come down from. The All-Decade punter of the 2010s, Hekker's turning 35 in a month and doesn't have the kind of sheer leg strength he once did, but he's also accurate and versatile as a punter and has the added benefit of being a reliable holder, and someone who can throw a pass if needed. The day job is still the day job, but those little things help.
Piñeiro is still third on the all-time accuracy list, but he doesn't try as many long ones as some of the other kickers. We've known this.
The thing with free agency is that these guys get to make choices, too, and teams have to look at the market and see if there are upgrades or acceptable alternatives.
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And on that note, let's go lightning round, brought to you by the patron saint of the lightning round Jeff from Fuquay-Varina, to close it out this week.
Darin. Upgraded my tickets last week to four in the club section on the home side at the 50 as we don't burn up in early fall. Treatment is going well. I believe we may have a quarterback. All defense draft? See ya next year! — Jimmy, Wilmington, NC
That's great to hear on all fronts, Jimmy, primarily the treatment going well part. I don't know if it'll be all defense, but "mostly" makes a lot of sense.
For perspective, can you tell us how many Day 1 starters played in Week 18? — Robert, King, NC
Week 1 wasn't a perfect starting point anyway, as they were without D.J. Wonnum, and he didn't roll back in until Germany. But of the official starting 11 in Week 1 against the Saints, six of the starters were also in the lineup in Week 18 (Robinson, Shy Tuttle, Jadeveon Clowney, Mike Jackson, Jordan Fuller, Xavier Woods). They were missing Brown, Thompson, Josey Jewell, now-Buccaneer Troy Hill and Horn. But even in that group of holdovers, Fuller was benched previously and was only back on the field for the finale because rookie safety Demani Richardson got moved up to nickel since Hill-replacement Chau Smith-Wade was on IR.
Yeah, that's a lot.
Thanks to you and Kassidy for providing my Monday go-to "Inside the Numbers"! I loved the extra nuggets this year to go along with the Snap Counts. A much more satisfying read this season compared to last year! — Jan, Flat Rock, NC
We do it for the people. Jan even threw in the smiley-face emoji, which made me feel appreciated. We're always looking for new and better ways to give the people what they want (and need). And we will continue to.
My grandson is going to turn 6 on Feb 1. He's a HUGE panthers fan. What would be your best suggestion for a gift for him? We're in the Tulsa, OK, area, so tickets to a game are pretty much out for us. Any cool thoughts? — Wendy, Broken Arrow, OK
I'd send him a Friend Of The Mailbag T-shirt, but we don't have youth sizes since I don't recommend exposing impressionable children to all this. But you know what? Broken Arrow isn't that far from Stillwater, so maybe you can get him some Panthers gear representing Oklahoma State legend Chuba Hubbard. That's a far more appropriate role model for a child because he's all about the work, and the earning things the hard way. He has built the character.
Imagine you are young again and you have to pick a new group to sit with at lunch after your friends miss a day of school to watch a Crosby, Stills, and Nash (and Young maybe??) but you don't want to go. At Table A sits JJ Jansen, Jerry Jensen, Jeno James, and Josey Jewell. At Table B sits Renaldo Turnbull, Olindo Mare, Greg Olsen, and Corn Elder. And at Table C sits Panthers legend Lavar Ball, Jon Beason, Jerricho Cotchery, and Armanti Edwards. What table are you sitting at? — Zach, Charlotte
That Ball-Beason pairing is tempting because both those cats can talk. But all-JJ, all the time, would be cool too. Even though Jansen can carry a conversation by himself, it's a little-known fact that Jeno James was a published poet, so that adds a little gravity to the proceedings. You should read his stuff while you GET BACK TO CLASS, ZACH.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! That is all — Bart, Monroe, NC
Clearly, Bart just got back from the Harris Teeter the day before a blizzard. Be careful out there, keep your devices charged, have some non-perishables, and check on your people. Otherwise, stay inside and enjoy a weekend of offseason that doesn't include a coach, GM, or quarterback search.
That's a real sentence I just typed. Drink it in, like this egg nog I'm about to slip into to watch the snow fall.
